" Then he sat for a minute or two
talking about the books his pupil was reading, and indicating the
points he was to look out for, till at half-past ten another youth
appeared to go through the same process. This went on until twelve
o'clock. Howard's manner was kindly and business-like, and the
undergraduates were very much at their ease. One of them objected
to one of his criticisms. Howard turned to a dictionary and showed
him a paragraph. "You will see I am right," he said, "but don't
hesitate to object to anything I say--these usages are tricky
things!" The undergraduate smiled and nodded.
Just before twelve o'clock he was left alone for five minutes, and
a servant brought in a note. Howard opened it, and taking a sheet
of paper, began to write. At the hour a youth appeared, of very
boyish aspect, curly-haired, fresh-looking, ingenuous. Howard
greeted him with a smile. "Half a minute, Jack!" he said. "There's
the paper--not the Sportsman, I'm afraid, but you can console
yourself while I just finish this note." The boy sat down by the
fire, but instead of taking the paper, drew a solemn-looking cat,
which was sitting regarding the hearth, on to his knee, and began
playing with it. Presently Howard threw his pen down. "Come along,"
he said. The boy, still carrying the cat, came and sat down beside
him. The lesson proceeded as before, but there was a slight
difference in Howard's manner of speech, as of an uncle with a
favourite nephew.
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